Complexity and Analogy in Science

305 Pages·2016·5.76 MB·English

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Complexity and Analogy in Science:
Theoretical, Methodological and
Epistemological Aspects
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Pontificiae Academiae Scientiarvm Acta 22
The Proceedings
of the Plenary Session on
Complexity and Analogy in Science:
Theoretical, Methodological and
Epistemological Aspects
5-7 November 2012
Edited by
Werner Arber
Jürgen Mittelstraß
Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo
EX AEDIBVS ACADEMICIS
IN CIVITATE VATICANA • MMXV
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The Pontifical Academy of Sciences
Casina Pio IV, 00120 Vatican City
Tel: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected] • Website: www.pas.va
The opinions expressed with absolute freedom during the presentation of the
papers of this meeting, although published by the Academy, represent only the
points of view of the participants and not those of the Academy.
ISBN 978-88-7761-106-2
© 2015 Libreria Editrice Vaticana
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, photocopying
or otherwise without the expressed written permission of the publisher.
PONTIFICIA ACADEMIA SCIENTIARVM • VATICAN CITY
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My predecessor Benedict XVI likewise proposed “eliminating the
structural causes of the dysfunctions of the world economy and
correcting models of growth which have proved incapable of en-
suring respect for the environment”. He observed that the world
cannot be analyzed by isolating only one of its aspects, since “the
book of nature is one and indivisible”, and includes the environ-
ment, life, sexuality, the family, social relations, and so forth. It fol-
lows that “the deterioration of nature is closely connected to the
culture which shapes human coexistence”. Pope Benedict asked us
to recognize that the natural environment has been gravely dam-
aged by our irresponsible behaviour. The social environment has
also suffered damage. Both are ultimately due to the same evil: the
notion that there are no indisputable truths to guide our lives, and
hence human freedom is limitless. We have forgotten that “man is
not only a freedom which he creates for himself. Man does not
create himself. He is spirit and will, but also nature”. With paternal
concern, Benedict urged us to realize that creation is harmed
“where we ourselves have the final word, where everything is sim-
ply our property and we use it for ourselves alone. The misuse of
creation begins when we no longer recognize any higher instance
than ourselves, when we see nothing else but ourselves”.
Pope Francis, Encyclical Letter Laudato si’, para. 6.
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Contents
Word of Welcome
Werner Arber....................................................................................... 12
Preface
Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo.................................................................... 14
Programme......................................................................................... 15
List of Participants............................................................................. 19
Address of the President to the Holy Father ..................................... 22
Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to Participants in the Plenary
Session of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences................................. 24
Commemorations of Deceased Academicians.................................. 27
Self-Presentations of New Academicians.......................................... 38
The Pius XI Medal Award.................................................................... 42
Complexity, Reductionism, and Holism in Science and Philosophy
of Science
Jürgen Mittelstraß................................................................................ 45
Scientific Papers
SESSIONI: PHYSICS, ASTROPHYSICSANDMATHEMATICS
Complexity at the Fundamental Level of our Knowledge
Antonino Zichichi............................................................................... 57
Kolmogorov Complexity as a Hidden Factor of Scientific Discourse:
From Newton’s Law to Data Mining
Yuri I. Manin....................................................................................... 90
Scaling Laws in Complex Systems
Rudolf Muradyan................................................................................ 106
Complexity and Analogy in Science: Theoretical, Methodological and Epistemological Aspects 9